Challenges and opportunities for carbon sequestration in ... - FAO

Challenges and opportunities for carbon sequestration in grassland systemsA Technical Report on Grassland Management and Climate Change Mitigation©FAO/A. Savory©FAO/C. Neely©FAO/C. LeggettGrasslands represent the majority of the world’sagricultural area and hold 20 percent of theworld’s soil carbon stockGrasslands, including rangelands, shrub land, pasture land and croplandsown with pasture, trees and fodder crops, represent 70 percent of theworld’s agricultural area.Grasslands are an irreplaceable source oflivelihoods and food security for the poorPoverty and economic marginalization often characterize the humancommunities managing grasslands. Livestock keeping is a source of incomeand basis for food security for more than 1 billion people – or one-thirdof the poor in rural areas – and is also the only potential source of incomethat can be derived from many grassland areas (see figure A). In addition,grasslands are a source of goods and services such as wild food, energy andwildlife habitat. They also provide carbon and water storage, recreation andwatershed protection for many major river systems.52Integrated Crop Management